Monte Carlo

A mediocre musical comedy. The songs were okay, but over-orchestrated. And I don't care at all for Jeanette MacDonald's voice, too showy and trilly. I didn't think Jack Buchanan was the dud that others accuse him of being, but he's no Maurice Chevalier either. The story is sufficiently engaging, particularly in the final act, and there are some clever moments of innuendo. Far from a classic, but not entirely a waste of time.

Lubitsch musicals would be so much better without the music. The romance is not particularly original, but it's done well and the script is quite funny. But the songs are not pleasant to listen too, with the bad sound and unoriginal staging, even if they are sometimes cleverly written.

Viewed December 1, 2021. Lubitsch’s multi-location and open air musical sequences, where environmental sounds like the movement of a train contribute to the rhythm of the scene, are astonishing (and they beat Mamoulian’s Love Me Tonight to the punch).

Irreparably dated, caught between fairly impressive visuals and primitive sound design. There are several moments that remind you of a silent film, when ideas or emotions are efficiently represented by the image alone. Unfortunately the songs are bad and the romance is unsympathetic. Just boring.

"'We are SMART cinephiles!'" http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/12/episode-82-cinema-masters-vol-xi.html

Not top-tier Lubitsch, but still fun and the ending is delightfully meta and self-reflexive.